Pensioner sentenced for assaulting a police officer

A Louth pensioner slapped a female police officer who was taking her to hospital against her will, a court has been told.

Jillian Diane Wood, 63, of Eastgate, admitted assaulting PC Kelly Palmer, a police officer acting in the execution of her duty, when she appeared at Skegness Magistrates’ Court.

Jim Clare, prosecuting, said that in the early hours of the morning of February 16, police spoke to Ms Wood after reports that she had taken an overdose of prescription drugs.

He said that Ms Wood initially refused to go to hospital and was then abusive and aggressive to the police officers and ambulance staff present.

Mr Clare said she had to be restrained and was taken to the hospital at Louth.

As she was being taken out of the ambulance, she shouted “F*** off, bitch,” at PC Palmer and slapped her, causing redness and discomfort.

Mr Clare said that in 2006, Ms Wood, a former art and English teacher, had served a two year custodial sentence for assaulting her mother, for whom she was the carer, although the court later heard that she had resumed caring for her mother until her death.

In mitigation, Nicholas Alderson said that Ms Wood was being told she had to go to hospital when she didn’t want to go, and she was taken forcibly.

He told the magistrates that she had fallen at home and had seen blood coming from her ear and had telephoned the emergency advice service 111.

However, it turned out to be just a cut and not internal bleeding.

He said that Ms Wood did admit the slap was ‘without justification’ and ‘in the heat of the moment’.

Ms Wood was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the police officer.